A night of raw northern voices and history is coming to Stockport later this month with a free, one-off performance from broadside ballad belter, Jennifer Reid.

Bringing her folk-punk, acapella, clog-stomping style to diob – just yards from the old mills that helped shape the town – its industrial past will be brought to life by the traditional working class songs that were once the soundtrack of daily life for hard working people across the North West.

Jennifer became well-known for playing Barb in the critically acclaimed BBC period drama The Gallows Pole and recently supported Pulp and John Cooper Clarke for Chanel's prestigious Metiers d'Art show.

After volunteering at Chetham's Library and the Working Class Movement Library, she completed an Advanced Diploma in Local History at Oxford University.

She now researches 19th century music to educate primary school to university level students, and develops talks, seminars and workshops for history and community groups.

Jennifer is currently on an 18-date sold out tour supporting folk-royalty Eliza Carthy, but will be squeezing in a visit to diob as part of its monthly listening club Passing Element, run by experimental and traditional music-enthusiast, Rónán Ó hEarcáin.

He said: "Jennifer is so entertaining to watch because she sings in a traditional Lancashire dialect and gives information about the songs she's singing as well.

"Sometimes she mentions local landmarks and it's interesting to think about what was happening in those areas at that time."

The event will be Passing Element's 11th listening club at diob, which Rónán said had been gradually building a small crowd of loyal followers, who enjoy hearing a new mix of laid-back, experimental and traditional sounds on the fourth Sunday of every month.

It hosted a pre-release listening party for James Yorkston's new album "Songs for Nina and Johanna" last month, recorded in collaboration with Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Söderberg (First Aid Kit).

"We try not to have music that's seen as pigeon-holed at Passing Element, and Jennifer's music does represent that," Rónán said. "It's pretty unique and something you wouldn't expect to hear on a Saturday night or on the radio.

"As it's coming up to nearly a year, we thought we'd do something a bit different and have a live performance as well as the usual tunes. And it's a bank holiday so people can enjoy themselves a bit more!"

The listening club will start at its usual time of 6pm on Sunday 24th August, followed by Jennifer's live performance at 8pm.

It is a free, un-ticketed event, but opportunities will be available to make a donation for Jennifer's performance on the night.